N AUMA'CI1 IA, the representation of a sea-fight among the Romanis, which was sometimes performed in the Circus Maximus or amphi theatre, water being introduced sufficient to float ships, but more fre quently in places made especially for the purpose, which were called Naumachim. Julius Caesar appears to have been the first who gave a representation of a sea-fight on an extensive scale. He dug a lake in the Camp's Martins for the purpose, which however was filled up in his lifetime (Dion Cass., xi. 23; Suet., ' Jul.,' c. 39, with Casaubon's note, and c. 43). Augustus also dug a lake near the Tiber for the same purpose, which was afterwards turned into a park or plantation (' names ;' Suet.,' Oct..' 43 ; Tacit., Ann.; xii. 56). Another lake was dug in the Campus Martius by Caligula (Dion Cass., lix. 10); but Claudius exhibited a naumachia on the lake Fucinus, now Celano. (Suet., ' Claud.; 21 ; Dion, lx. 33; Tee., ` Ann.,' xii. 56.) The old naumachia (reins naumackia), in which Titus is said by Suetouius (' Tit.; 7) to have exhibited a sea-fight, has occasioned some dispute among the learned; some understanding it to be the Circus Maximus, and others the Lake dug by order of Augustus (Ernesti on Suet. ' Tib., 72). Dumitian appears to have been the first who erected a building of atone around these artificial lakes (Suet.,' Dom.; 4, 5). Previews to his time the spectators appear to have sat upon wooden benches, which might be easily made to rise gradually above one another with the earth which had been dug out of the artificial lake. In later times the
naumachixe were usually surrounded with buildings like the amphi theatre or circus.
The ships which were engaged in these sea-fights were divided into two parties, which were called respectively by the names of different maritime nations, as the Tyrian and Egyptian fleets (Suet., Jul.,' 39), tho Sicilian and Median Claud.,' 21), &e. Tho combatants, who were called Nanniachiarii (Suet., Claud.,' 21), were usually cap tives or criminals, who fought to death, unless saved by the clemency of the emperor. Theme sea-fights are said to have been exhibited on such a scale of magnificence and splendour as almost to surpass our belief. In the naumachia exhibited by Nero there were sea-monsters swimming about in tho artificial lake (Suet., Nero; 12), and Claudius caused a Triton, made of silver, to be placed in the middle of the lake Fucinus, who was made, by machinery, to give the signal for attack with a trumpet. (Suet., 6 Claud.; 21.) In Domitian's uaumachia the number of ships engaged was almost equal to two real fleets (pane ju tee classes, Suet.,' Dom.,' 4); and in the sea-fight on the lake Fucinus, there are said to have been no fewer than a hundred ships, and 19,000 combatants. (Tee., ` Ann.; xii. 56.)